Bombadil
Active member
1.1.15
Carters to Moriah via 19MB/ Carter Dome Trail/Stony Brook variation
Barebooting or microspikes for 19 MB, some patches of bare ground and ice along the way (I wore spikes car to car and would recommend as much--if it's below freezing definitely leave the snowshoes in the car until it warms up or snows--the latter sounds more likely to happen first). Carter Dome Trail was pretty well packed with the occasional posthole off to the side of the monorail. We went up Mt. Hight en route to Carter Dome, there's a couple of minor blowdowns. From Hight we had great views with Washington's head in the clouds with <5 mph wind. There's a couple of minor blowdowns on CMT back down to Zeta Pass. CMT to South and Middle Carter were well packed--nice and easy.
I continued on CMT to Moriah and right from the North Carter Jct you begin hitting many blowdowns as reported earlier this week by Heather & Kali. There's probably over 100 between the North Carter Trail and Moriah. Most are minor but there's some big ones, especially in the vicinity of Imp Shelter where the trail corridor may become tricky to follow due to the number of blowdowns. The snow consistency was pretty terrible for this stretch, lots of ice chunks and frozen snow debris on top of the hard crust. There's 1 tricky spot descending N Carter where there's a bit of an ice bulge in the midst of a luge run. With softer snow that would help you slow down it'd be a nice quick and safe slide down but under the current conditions you had to use tree handholds and attempt to kick steps on the edge of trail. From the Stony Brook junction up to Moriah there's far fewer blowdowns but still a good number that will need to be cleared up. Descending Stony Brook there's a few big blowdowns right by the jct but otherwise it looks like trail crews have been out clearing the numerous blowdowns the rest of the way. Also the footing is pretty atrocious down low where barebooters dirty work has been frozen in place, lots of ankle twisting small holes. All in all though still a nice hike and enjoyed hiking with Cory and Tom while meeting a few folks out in the woods enjoying a nice New Years Day.
Tecumseh via ski area
Some bare ground and exposed rock down low. The 2 main crossings are becoming nicely bridged again. Otherwise a nice, super fast concrete sidewalk to the summit.
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo dot com
Carters to Moriah via 19MB/ Carter Dome Trail/Stony Brook variation
Barebooting or microspikes for 19 MB, some patches of bare ground and ice along the way (I wore spikes car to car and would recommend as much--if it's below freezing definitely leave the snowshoes in the car until it warms up or snows--the latter sounds more likely to happen first). Carter Dome Trail was pretty well packed with the occasional posthole off to the side of the monorail. We went up Mt. Hight en route to Carter Dome, there's a couple of minor blowdowns. From Hight we had great views with Washington's head in the clouds with <5 mph wind. There's a couple of minor blowdowns on CMT back down to Zeta Pass. CMT to South and Middle Carter were well packed--nice and easy.
I continued on CMT to Moriah and right from the North Carter Jct you begin hitting many blowdowns as reported earlier this week by Heather & Kali. There's probably over 100 between the North Carter Trail and Moriah. Most are minor but there's some big ones, especially in the vicinity of Imp Shelter where the trail corridor may become tricky to follow due to the number of blowdowns. The snow consistency was pretty terrible for this stretch, lots of ice chunks and frozen snow debris on top of the hard crust. There's 1 tricky spot descending N Carter where there's a bit of an ice bulge in the midst of a luge run. With softer snow that would help you slow down it'd be a nice quick and safe slide down but under the current conditions you had to use tree handholds and attempt to kick steps on the edge of trail. From the Stony Brook junction up to Moriah there's far fewer blowdowns but still a good number that will need to be cleared up. Descending Stony Brook there's a few big blowdowns right by the jct but otherwise it looks like trail crews have been out clearing the numerous blowdowns the rest of the way. Also the footing is pretty atrocious down low where barebooters dirty work has been frozen in place, lots of ankle twisting small holes. All in all though still a nice hike and enjoyed hiking with Cory and Tom while meeting a few folks out in the woods enjoying a nice New Years Day.
Tecumseh via ski area
Some bare ground and exposed rock down low. The 2 main crossings are becoming nicely bridged again. Otherwise a nice, super fast concrete sidewalk to the summit.
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo dot com
